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John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, wears a team scarf during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commission Don Garber holds up a team scarf with John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Nashville soccer fans cheer during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

Mayor Megan Barry; John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor; Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, and Gov. Bill Haslam pose after the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Mayor Megan Barry applauds during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Gov. Bill Haslam applauds during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commission Don Garber smiles with John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commission Don Garber smiles with John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commission Don Garber shakes hands with John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Mayor Megan Barry hugs Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, applauds during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, smiles during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville on Dec. 20, 2017, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, speaks during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commission Don Garber shakes hands with John Ingram, Nashville SC's lead investor, during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announces the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Behind him are former Titan star Eddie George, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Gov. Bill Haslam. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Mayor Megan Barry applauds during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announces the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Robbie Melton jumps for joy along with other members of The Roadies, a Nashville SC as Major League Soccer officials name Nashville the new MLS expansion team.
Wednesday Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / File / The Tennessean

Gov. Bill Haslam listens to the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Kyle Mountsier shows his pride for Nashville as members of The Roadies, a Nashville SC supporter group, yell, chant and scream Major League Soccer officials name Nashville the new MLS expansion team.
Wednesday Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, TN Larry McCormack / File / The Tennessean

Mayor Megan Barry and Gov. Bill Haslam share a laugh during the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Major League Soccer Commissioner Ed Garber announces the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Former Titan Eddie George applauds announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Members of The Roadies, a Nashville SC supporter group, yell, chant and scream Major League Soccer officials name Nashville the new MLS expansion team.
Wednesday Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, TN
Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

ESPN's Taylor Twellman emcees the announcement of the new Major League Soccer franchise in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Members of The Roadies, a Nashville SC supporter group, cheer at the Country Music Hall of Fame prior to the announcement that the city is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / File / The Tennessean

Soccer fans cheer in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame outside the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Soccer fans cheer in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame outside the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Soccer fans cheers in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame outside the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

A soccer fan wears a Nashville Soccer scarf in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame before the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Soccer fans fill the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame outside the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Soccer fans cheer in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame before the announcement that Nashville is getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Nashville MLS CEO Ian Ayre, left, named Mike Jacobs the franchise's general manager on Tuesday. Jacobs is currently technical director of Nashville SC, which will begin its second season in the USL in 2019.(Photo: MIKE ORGAN / THE TENNESSEAN)Buy Photo

Jacobs is currently the technical director for Nashville SC, which plays in the United Soccer League. He will remain in that role in 2019 while also overseeing the transition to the MLS.

"I imagine having five to six senior managers who report to me and Mike's the first one that we're announcing of those," Nashville MLS CEO Ian Ayre said. "Mike will be the technical voice of the business. A big part of that role is assembling the roster."

As far as juggling his dual roles, Ayre said Jacobs will likely start out 2019 focused 80 percent on the USL club, which will begin its second season in March.

As the year goes on, he will spend more and more time on the MLS team. By the fall, Jacobs's primary focus will be on the top level club.

Ayre said he expects Nashville's MLS team to start playing in March 2020.

Nashville SC's Mike Jacobs during warm ups before a game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: Shelley Mays/Tennessean.com)

Jacobs, who became Nashville SC's technical director on Oct. 5, 2017, said he already has started to work on the MLS roster.

"For us, a large part of that is taking inventory of our current players on the USL team while also scouting and trying to forecast what kind of players that we think fit the profile of our (MLS) team here," Jacobs said.

Jacobs said he will recruit players internationally, relying on a scouting network he already has in place.

"We will look to try to identify players from countries that have a history of coming into MLS and doing well," he said. "But also, I appreciate the fact that any roster for any strong team in Major League Soccer has a very strong domestic base."

When Nashville SC started playing in the USL, team officials placed a heavy emphasis on signing players with local ties. A roster with familiar players, they felt, would help the team develop a larger fan base.

That philosophy won't work at the top level, Jacobs said.

"In a perfect world, it would be great to have players from Nashville specifically," he said. "The reality is, it would be unfair to our fans to take a player solely because of where they're from. We think the best way to represent them is just to win a lot. So for us, we're going to put the best roster together to help us pursue championships."

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MLS commissioner Don Garber doesn't have a pecking order for the cities vying for one of the final two MLS expansion spots but did mention Phoenix.
Arizona Republic

A next major step for the MLS franchise will be to hire a head coach.

Ayre, who already has heard from plenty of individuals interested in the job, said he and Jacobs would collaborate on hiring a coach.

"We have a lot of similar views, which I think is a good thing," Ayre said. "It has to be someone who has achieved certain things in the game, but most importantly we want a coach that wants to be in Nashville and wants to do the right for Nashville. Not somebody who's just on the journey through the industry or the game. We're hoping to build something pretty special here and for that reason we have to have a person who gets that and can fit into it."

Ayre said Nashville SC coach Gary Smith is a candidate.

"Gary's done a fantastic job in the first 12 months with the USL team," Ayre said. "I think he achieved more than anyone could've or would've expected. We definitely will include Gary in the mix because he deserves the opportunity to be considered."

Jacobs said spending the past year in Nashville will help him recruit players here.

"What I was most encouraged by when I first moved here was the reputation that this city has, not only nationally, but internationally," Jacobs said. "Nashville is clearly a destination city. When you look around MLS and what cities will attract prominent players to our league, when you get past the New Yorks or L.A., there's no reason to think Nashville wouldn't equate itself very well comparatively to cities like Seattle or Atlanta or Orlando as far as true destination cities people want to visit and people want to come play for."